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theduchess93's review against another edition
5.0
While I agree with a couple other reviewers that the juxtaposition of the two storylines detracted from my interest in Drake's plot a bit, it was only because Elizabeth's was so wonderfully portrayed. The incorporation of epistolary elements gave it a touch of authenticity without trying too hard to move away from historical fiction. Definitely going to have to read more about Bathory now.
jamiezaccaria's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I love reading about Countess Bathory and the idea of dual-timeline storylines was certainly intriguing but in the end it failed to really capture me. I can't help but wonder if a woman would have been a better author for this subject matter.
knp4597's review against another edition
1.0
The author is supposedly a descendant of the Blood Countess, and his attempted biography of his ancestor is horrible. I couldn't even finish it, the writing was so poor.
morgandante's review against another edition
4.0
[pasted from blog]
The Blood Countess is a lurid erotic horror novel by Andrei Codrescu. It is described in one review as a dark fairytale combined with the Marquis de Sade, which is apt. The writing style, very ornate and theatrical at times, reflects the morbid, larger-than-life spectacle of the story.
Elizabeth Bathory was a Hungarian Countess who allegedly murdered several hundred virgins to bathe in their blood to regain her youth. The literal bloodbaths are the stuff of legend, though there are inquiries about how many women Bathory killed, or even if she was framed. I won't speculate on the matter. Codrescu, as many adapters of Bathory's story do, goes for the most dramatic flair. It's much like my favorite Cradle of Filth album, Cruelty and the Beast, which spins an elaborate narrative about the Countess. Admittedly, The Blood Countess has been on my radar for awhile, and it was only recently I could get a physical copy.
As I mentioned before, the prose fits the morbid, dream-like story well, and though the story meanders, I had no trouble getting through the novel. It's rare I don't put down a book frequently because of my poor attention span. That being said, I may've skimmed through the parts where Bathory's ancestor speaks to a judge about a young woman's murder. It's a nifty idea, paralleling Bathory and her descendant, but this part of the story felt clunky and meandering; I would've preferred that the story remain in Elizabeth Bathory's timeline rather than jumping back and forth between then and now.
It isn't that this couldn't work, but it didn't feel as well-executed as it could be since Drake's story is told in retrospect with some emotional distance. I get the sense that Codrescu's reporting instincts took over in some section, which took me out of more visceral parts. When Codrescu wants to set a scene, he does it well and with extravagant lushness; though his vision of Bathory differs from mine, I enjoyed his introspection into her thoughts, particularly how she disagreed with the powerful Catholics as a lone Protestant. This really gave a sense of a strong (yet, of course, terrible) character amid a turbulent time.
The book did make me squeamish in parts, though it is not the most explicit thing I've read, though it's definitely not recommended if you are triggered by rape or sexual abuse of any kind. If you're not deterred from horror that also contains sexual violence, and you're not deterred by anything I've said so far, you can find a link to the book in the image to the left.
The Blood Countess is a lurid erotic horror novel by Andrei Codrescu. It is described in one review as a dark fairytale combined with the Marquis de Sade, which is apt. The writing style, very ornate and theatrical at times, reflects the morbid, larger-than-life spectacle of the story.
Elizabeth Bathory was a Hungarian Countess who allegedly murdered several hundred virgins to bathe in their blood to regain her youth. The literal bloodbaths are the stuff of legend, though there are inquiries about how many women Bathory killed, or even if she was framed. I won't speculate on the matter. Codrescu, as many adapters of Bathory's story do, goes for the most dramatic flair. It's much like my favorite Cradle of Filth album, Cruelty and the Beast, which spins an elaborate narrative about the Countess. Admittedly, The Blood Countess has been on my radar for awhile, and it was only recently I could get a physical copy.
As I mentioned before, the prose fits the morbid, dream-like story well, and though the story meanders, I had no trouble getting through the novel. It's rare I don't put down a book frequently because of my poor attention span. That being said, I may've skimmed through the parts where Bathory's ancestor speaks to a judge about a young woman's murder. It's a nifty idea, paralleling Bathory and her descendant, but this part of the story felt clunky and meandering; I would've preferred that the story remain in Elizabeth Bathory's timeline rather than jumping back and forth between then and now.
It isn't that this couldn't work, but it didn't feel as well-executed as it could be since Drake's story is told in retrospect with some emotional distance. I get the sense that Codrescu's reporting instincts took over in some section, which took me out of more visceral parts. When Codrescu wants to set a scene, he does it well and with extravagant lushness; though his vision of Bathory differs from mine, I enjoyed his introspection into her thoughts, particularly how she disagreed with the powerful Catholics as a lone Protestant. This really gave a sense of a strong (yet, of course, terrible) character amid a turbulent time.
The book did make me squeamish in parts, though it is not the most explicit thing I've read, though it's definitely not recommended if you are triggered by rape or sexual abuse of any kind. If you're not deterred from horror that also contains sexual violence, and you're not deterred by anything I've said so far, you can find a link to the book in the image to the left.
victoriaalexander's review against another edition
3.0
A graphic look at a woman who could give Vlad the Impaler a run for his money. Gruesome yet fascinating.
aelvargas's review against another edition
3.0
Let me start by saying that I've read half of this book multiple times. As a fan of history and political intrigue, this book is very interesting. It's a little odd at times, and can be quite gruesome, but the subject is gruesome. I confess that I have repeatedly skipped the modern-day chapters of this book. In my opinion, they are completely unnecessary. I tried once to read them, but then decided it was a waste of time. So half of this book is pretty good, the story itself lacks conflict and rising action, but it's the story of a girl grown into a woman who is very disturbed. Conclusions: If you're a history buff and want to read a different take on the Elizabeth Bathory tale then this book is worth your time (but I do think you should skip those other chapters).
lola_milk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, Murder, Pedophilia, Confinement, Gore, Incest, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Ableism, Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Antisemitism, Car accident, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, War, and Animal death
Minor: Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Drug use, and Xenophobia
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
1.0
Open Road Media is a publisher that if I am unsure of a book, I will try it anyway. Usually, I end up loving it. The few times I don't, and this is one, it is more of a case of the author's style not being to my taste.
There is too much telling and not enough showing in the Countess parts of this book for me, and for the more modern setting, I just can't bring myself to care. Partly it is because of the overt sexuality, and not sensuality (at least to my tastes). I know it is about the Blood Countess, so of course it is going to be there, but there is a way to do it that doesn't smack of using breasts to get readers.
The idea is interesting, and I have no doubt that several people will enjoy it this. In some ways, it reminds me of [b:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo|2429135|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)|Stieg Larsson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327868566s/2429135.jpg|1708725], and since I was lukewarm about that novel, my reaction to this is no surprise.
There is too much telling and not enough showing in the Countess parts of this book for me, and for the more modern setting, I just can't bring myself to care. Partly it is because of the overt sexuality, and not sensuality (at least to my tastes). I know it is about the Blood Countess, so of course it is going to be there, but there is a way to do it that doesn't smack of using breasts to get readers.
The idea is interesting, and I have no doubt that several people will enjoy it this. In some ways, it reminds me of [b:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo|2429135|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)|Stieg Larsson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327868566s/2429135.jpg|1708725], and since I was lukewarm about that novel, my reaction to this is no surprise.
krista7's review
1.0
I'm torn on how to rate this.
On the one hand, I flat-out disliked the book. It was violent, grotesque, and lacked a strong sense of characterization.
On the other hand, the book demonstrated artistry: it made comments on Hungary's past and present, gender, and the nature of stories.
On the one hand, I flat-out disliked the book. It was violent, grotesque, and lacked a strong sense of characterization.
On the other hand, the book demonstrated artistry: it made comments on Hungary's past and present, gender, and the nature of stories.
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